Working under a cloud of secrecy and rain the Georgia Bulldogs held their final practice on Thursday afternoon before their showdown with Oklahoma State Saturday. Head Coach Mark Richt feels more confident in this team heading into the season and the main reason for that is one player. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and his emergence as the leader of the offense along with Fernando Velasco has changed the dynamics of the team and given them a much needed confidence boost heading into the 2007 season.

"The quarterback thing is so big because it affects everybody. If you have another position problem it might affect one side of the ball, but quarterback affects everything. We are much more solid there because we know who it is and we also know that we have a great backup. I feel real good about that part of it," said Richt. "We have not been tested and have not had our backs against the wall yet. We will see how we reach to it."

The real test for the 2007 Georgia team will come when they are losing for the first time and Coach Richt will know a lot more about his team at that point.

"You never know how a team will react when it gets tough. If a team goes undefeated they are going to have a lot times where they feel game adversity when the game is close and a bad thing happens. What will you do know if you are losing at halftime or whatever it is. They are going to face some adversity they have not faced as a team and as a group of leaders. I spoke with the seniors about that today and Saturday is their first true test."